Journalist Katie Couric and a panel of experts in psychology, business, neuroscience and design will gather Friday, Oct. 18, for a discussion about the happiness and sense of wellbeing that elude so many but are sought by all.

The science of happiness is a growing and intriguing field. The results of research about what truly makes people happy are not only surprising but applicable no matter how much money we make or where we live.

What makes us happy and why? Journalist Katie Couric will lead a panel of experts though an exploration of the topic at the eighth annual Roundtable at Stanford University on Friday, Oct. 18, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in Maples Pavilion.

The event, which takes place in conjunction with Stanford's Reunion Homecoming Weekend, is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required.

Panelists include social psychologist Jennifer Aaker, a marketing professor at Stanford Graduate School of Business; neuroscientist Firdaus Dhabhar, who studies the effects of good stress and bad stress at the Stanford School of Medicine; Sonja Lyubomirsky, the director of the Positive Psychology Lab at the University of California-Riverside; Ian Gotlib, chair of the Department of Psychology at Stanford; and David Kelley, co-founder of design firm IDEO and head of the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford.

Doors to Maples Pavilion will open for alumni at 8:45 a.m. Stanford President John Hennessy will welcome alumni at 9:30 a.m. The doors will open to the general public at 9:45 a.m., and the program begins at 10 a.m.